Thread: Cross Country first flight N248CT

Hello Group,
We got a new CTSW 2006 in Salinas CA on Feb 08 and flew home to Stow, MA.
LSAW was great on safety - got 2 solid days with chief CFI before leaving.
What a great flight! Vfr of course, met lots of friendly folks along the way.
My wife put up a travel log at http://home.comcast.net/~hiveymc/

Thanks for all the advice here - taping up wing root holes was
essential to keeping warm. Metal tape on radiator helped keep
engine temps in range. Still seeking seat padding... I pull up
on the bar and do a "Ct Wiggle" about once an hour now..
Will be adding a Bruce's Cover shortly.

My user name here, ccct was in anticipation of Cross Country in the CT.

Bill McCandless, N248CT , bmccand (at) yahoo (dot) com
30 hrs in type.

Bill,
That's an excellent journal of a trip the two of you will never forget. Someday I wish to travel from coast to coast. Enjoy your CT!
Tip

Suggestion: Buy some 1" medium (blue) confor foam. Remove the seat cushion and cut the confirm foam about 1/4" to 1/2" inside the dimensions of the existing foam (use a bread knife). Install. Enjoy flying without your butt hurting an ymore. Repeat as necessary.

Doug

I bought some high density foam. It is one step below Tempur-Pedic foam. Too soft is what causes hot spots on your butt. Motorcycle riders have struggled with this for years and have learned to use a more dense firm foam and not softer foam. I pulled the seats out and took off the seat cover. I cut a 1" piece of foam so it covered the entire seat bottom. I left the old soft foam on the bottom. Don't cut the edges down too much, just smash them down when you pull the seat cover back on and this will keep you hips from the edges. I also used the foam and cut a fairly large piece for a lumbar back support. This combination has made a world off difference. Now my butt and back have good solid support. It raised me up about 1 1/4", but no big deal. It is a lot better.

Very enjoyable reading. I made notes on your route and will compare it with some ideas I have for a west coast trip sometime. I figured I can make it from NC to southern CA without having obstacles over 7500 feet or so. I can theoretically make such a trip in 17-18 hours flying time - on paper.

wlfpckrs,
I got low alt Inst charts, AFD & sectionals for the flight. It looked like I raided a pilot
shop.. actually went to KRHV. Many charts expired Feb 13, I was leaving
Feb 16. The Low Alts got me MEA's , but also helped a lot in programming
the GPS396 route. I had sectionals, and did highlight lines on those. Kept
above MEA + 2000 for mountain areas. Had Oxygen aboard (3 lbs)

I'd like to have had a laptop, and used the AOPA planner, but weight
kept it out. I also put plans on fltplan.com, but not all FBO's have general
internet access. With WSI or Meteorlogix, I would look @ weather while
talking to briefers. In all but one case, FSS briefers were excellent.
(that one was a newbie, I had to talk him thru the std briefing sequence.)

CCCT